While transitioning from Division II to Division I the Department of Athletics increased their team quantity for 11 sports to 14 sports. Through the transition, the goal of the Department was to establish a support program that serviced all the student-athletes. The Athletics Academic Support Program is housed at our newly built Outdoor Sports Complex Building (OSC), located conveniently between our state of the art Baseball and Softball fields. Within the walls of the OSC, the Athletic Department provides wireless access, study hall, group and individual tutoring, monitored academic plans, laptop check-out, degree evaluations, class registration and eligibility assessments.
Although the services rendered at the Outdoor Sports Complex are focused on the individual needs of student-athletes, our philosophy on academic support is to incorporate all campus resources available to all students into the study schedules of our student-athletes. The student-athletes are able to utilize the university Writing Center, Supplemental Instruction and Math/Science Walk-In Center to assist them in academic success. Achieving excellence in and out of the classroom has always been the goal of the Athletic Department and building strong relationships with all the departments on campus assist in achieving this goal.
Individual and Group Tutoring
The Athletics Department has developed a close relationship with the Honors Program as well as the Center for Academic Achievement to provide the Athletic Department with experienced and knowledgeable tutors. Tutoring services cover all freshman/sophomore social science courses, Math courses, Biology courses and many Humanities courses. This service is free, conveniently located at the Outdoor Sports complex and is worked around the student-athletes practice and class schedule.
If interested in obtaining a tutor, please email Jessica Rouse at jrouse@fgcu.edu and communicate what course you need assistance in.
If interested in becoming a tutor for the Department of Athletics, please email Jessica Rouse at jrouse@fgcu.edu to make an appointment for an interview.
Monitored Study Hall
Located on the second floor of the Outdoor Sports Complex we offer monitored study halls. Study Hall is a structured, quiet environment where student-athletes can come to complete homework assignments and learn time management skills.
Spring 2010 Hours:
Sunday: 5-9pm
Monday: 9am-9pm
Tuesday: 11-2pm, 5-9pm
Wednesday: 9-12pm, 5-9pm
Thursday: 9am-9pm
Friday: 10am-6pm
Priority Registration
Each student-athlete is afforded the opportunity to register earlier than the general student body. Student-athletes are faced with practice and travel conflicts, and it is the Department of Athletics goal to limit the amount of classes each student-athlete missing per semester. Priority registration affords student-athletes the opportunity to plan ahead for the upcoming semester and schedule their classes around impending conflicts.
Travel Letters
Each student-athlete is given a travel letter at the beginning of each semester to give to their professors. Although priority registration does assist us in narrowing down travel conflicts with classes, conflicts may still occur. Travel letters are given to the professors discussing the student-athletes obligations to their team as well as to their course. Travel letters do not excuse the student-athlete from the course work, but rather grants them flexibility to make up the missed work.
Travel Laptops
The Department of Athletics offers student-athletes the opportunity to check out and utilize university laptops while traveling, or present in study hall. Wireless and Ethernet capable lap tops are able to log into the university system granting student-athletes the opportunity to access university programs.
Workshops
Through a partnership with the Center for Academic Achievement, beginning Spring 2010 semester the Department of Athletics will be having workshops for student-athletes developing their time management, note taking and test taking skills. These workshops will be administered to student-athletes in the Outdoor Sports Complex monthly.
Center for Academic Achievement Workshops webpage
Learning Disability/At-Risk Student-Athletes
Our Academic Support Program focuses on the success of all their student-athletes, no matter the challenges and difficulties each student-athlete faces. Student-athletes that are diagnosed with learning disabilities work closely with both the Academic Coordinator and Adaptive Services to make sure that their needs/accommodations are being met. In addition to accommodations, these student-athletes work closely with the Academic Coordinator to receive assistance with time management/study skills, developing individual academic plans and mandatory tutoring. In situations of remedial needs, the Academic Coordinator works closely with First Year Advising to remediate the student-athlete and access their eligibility concerns.
First Year Advising
Adaptive Services
Supplemental Instruction, Math and Science Walk-In
Supplemental Instruction (SI) is a student academic assistance program that increases academic performance and retention through its use of collaborative learning strategies. Through research, The Center for Academic Achievement identifies courses that have a high university wide drop/withdrawal/fail percentage in order to provide additional instruction. These sessions are tutorials that review the course material covered in specific sections. Every student-athlete is urged to utilize these services, if not already have SI structured in their day. The Athletic Department does offer tutoring in these courses, but attendance to SI will increase the likely hood of information retention.
In addition to Supplemental Instruction, The Center for Academic Achievement also provides tutoring services for all freshman, sophomore and most junior level Math and Science courses. These services are offered to all students at the university and in many cases offer tutoring at times convenient to practice schedules.
Both of these services are located at The Center for Academic Achievement, this office is attached to the east side of the Library, facing out into the open quad. For more information about the Center for Academic Achievement, and these resources, please contact their office at 239-590-7906.
Supplemental Instruction
Tutoring
University Writing Center
The University’s Writing Center is a campus wide tool that assists students with the construction and format of their papers. The Writing Center’s goal is to assist students in improving their overall writing skills, not just focusing on their one assignment. Students leave their session with a better understand of how to formulate thesis’s properly, develop their ideas and effectively convey their main points. For more information about The Writing Center, please contact their office at 239-590-7141.
